Fluid pressure mechanism for effecting step-by-step operation of a member to be operated



Jan. 27, 1953 G. FLUID PRESSURE MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING STEP-BY-STEP Filed June 16, 1947 o. KIMMELL 2,626,594

OPERATION OF A MEMBER TO BE OPERATED 5 Sheets-Sheet l Summer Garman 0. K/mme/l Gttornegs G. O. KIMMELL FLUID PRESSURE MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING OPERATION OF A MEMBER TO BE OPE Filed June 16, 1947 2,626,594 RST -BYSTEP Jan. 27, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Bummer 60/ /17 cm 0. A imme/l attorneys.

Jan. 27, 1953 G. o. KIMMELL 2,626,594

FLUID PREssuRE MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING STEP-BY-STEP OPERATION OF A MEMBER TO BE OPERATED Filed June 16, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mun Ihwcntor Gamma/1 0. Afmme/l MWPW Gltorncgs Jan. 27, 1953 G. o. KIMMELL 2,626,594

FLUID PRESSURE MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING STEP-BY-STEP 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 OPERATION OF A MEMBER TO BE OPERATED Filed June 16, 1947 Zmnentor I 6001mm Q K/mme/l Patented Jan. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE? FLUID PRESSURE- MECHANISM FOR EF- FECTING. STEP-BY-STEPv OPERATION OF A MEMBER, TO BE' OPERATED GarmanO. Kimmell, Oklahoma. City, Okla., as-

signor to. Black, Sivalls & Bryson,- Inc;, Kansas. City, Mo., a corpora tion of- Delaware ApplicationJune' 16, 1947, Serial No. 754,969

35Glaimr- 11 This i-nvention-relatesto valves and-particularly those operated responsive to accumulation of liquidsin-a vessel, for example, an oil and-gas separator. Usually such valvesare actuated by a float'thatrises with the liquid to open the -valve andlowers to close thevalve upon dischargeofthe-liquid. Direct float operatedvalves provide the reduction being accompanied by tempera ature drops, probably freezing, and condensation of liquid.

When gas from the separator is to be metered, steady discharge of liquid from the separator is; necessary to: prevent ragged and almost'unreadable: gas: meter chart marking. Snap action valves and modulated throttling valves 1 subject tohunting produceragged gas meter charts.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to providea throttling type-of valve and an improved? operating mechanismtherefor that overcomes the difliculties of the present valves soas tomaintain more uniform discharge of the liquid resulting in a more accu-- rate and readable gas. chart, and requiring; a minimum amount of operating fluid.

Another object of the present inventioni's to provide, a throttling type of. valve which results in a chart that is. readily readable to. determine accurately the amount of gas. discharged from the separator.

Other objects of the: invention are to provide:

a throttle operating mechanism thatv is- 13615-1 tively simple, does not. incorporate; any modulajting; devices, and does not, require numerous and. expert adjustments and repair.

A further object ofthe invention is to pro-. vide; a throttling valve that operates with small. increments or'stepsso as to provide a substan-- tially balanced uniform. flow of liquid from the separator.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided. improved structure; the preferred form of which is'illustrated inthe, acc mpanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion..of--

a separator equipped witha flow throttling valve and operating mechanism embodying the fea tures of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlargedsection of the-pilot valve for admitting and discharging: actuating fiuid to the flow throttling valve.

Fig. 3 is a section on the 1ine=33=0f Fig. 2.

Fig. 4' is across section on the line 4 4 013 Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line5-5-of Fig. 2;

Fig. 61 isa verticalsection through the throttlevaive and: the actuating mechanism therefor. Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the valve seat and. slide valve for controlling fiow of actuating medium tothe diaphragm actuator of the throttlevalve- Fig. 8' is: an enlarged section on the line 7 of Fig; 6.

Fig. 9 is a perspective. view of the valve and seat member of the inlet control valve of th e' pilotvalve.

Fig. 1.0.is; an enlarged vertical section-:onithe line l0li) of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11: is a diagrammatic view: of the pilot and. control valve for better illustrating theop eration; thereof.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a. separator havingan annular wall 2rand a bottom 3 forming afloat com-part ment 4. in which liquid separated in theupper portion of the separator. collects for discharge through a pipe; 5-. Connected in the pipe' 5: is a. throttle: valve 6 for. controllingflow-ot liquid from the separator I. as later described. Formed in thewall 2 of theseparat-or is.an opening 1 encircled by: a. collar 8 that carries a closure plate 9' which issecured to the collanby-fastening devicessuch as bolts. In. The plate 9 mounts atransverse rock shaft H I which carriesalatenally projecting float stem. I 2;that extends through the collar and into the separator. A1 float l3:

of anysuitabletype. isrfixedon the stem to ride on. thesurface of, the liquidinthe compartment? 4. The shaft u; projects: from; its mounting and carries an arm. l4 which. in previous arrangements of; this character hastbeen directly con nected with. the. actuating stem-of thethrottle valve or through a snapactionmechanism or through. a modulated: pilot as above pointed out.

Such: arrangements, however, have not been sat isfactory for. the reason. thattliey often result n a ragged and oftentimes unreadable recording on they record. chart of the gas metering mechanism (not; shown) are wasteful ofthe power fluid often resulting in freezing and regulator trouble, and are delicate and complicated.

As above pointed out, it is the purpose of the present invention to overcome this difliculty by providing an improved operating connection between the lever I4 and the actuating stem of the throttle valve which effects a positive almost constant flow of liquid from the separator and which avoids fluctuations due to hunting of modulated pilot throttle valves.

In carrying out the invention, the throttle valve 6 is of a type to be operated by a fluid pressure motor. The throttle valve illustrated includes a valve body |5 having an internal valve chamber I6 interconnecting inlet and discharge ports I! and |8 respectively that are located in branches l9 and 20 of the valve body which connect with the pipe 5 and an offtake pipe 2| which leads to a storage tank, a lower stage separator, or to a pipe line (not shown) Formed in the valve chamber intermediate the ports I! and I8 is a valve cage or guide 22 which includes a cylindrical head 23 having a neck 24 that is threaded into the inlet end of the outlet port 18. The head 23 is provided with a plurality of openings 25 through which the liquid is adapted to flow into the cage and through an orifice 26 that is provided in a seat member 21, the seat member being readily removable for replacement by a new seat member when necessary.

The upper end of the valve chamber I6 is closed by a head 28 which carries a bonnet 29 supporting a diaphragm casing 30. Mounted in the diaphragm casing is a flexible diaphragm 3| to which is connected a stem 32 that extends coaxially of the neck of the valve bonnet and through a suitable packing box 33 into the valve chamber |6 where it connects with a valve plug 34 through a swivel connection 35. The valve plug 34 is reciprocably guided in the valve cage and has a cone-shaped valving element 36 adapted to reciprocate within the orifice 26 for regulating the flow and to engage the upper face of the removable valve seat.

The diaphragm casing includes a fixed dishshaped section 31 having a rim 38 for seating the marginal edge of the diaphragm 3|, and seated on the margin of the diaphragm is a cover section 39 carrying a spring housing 48. The sections are secured together by fastening devices 4| to provide a leaktight joint. The sections 31 and 39 are shaped to cooperate with the diaphragm in providing a pressure chamber 42 on the stem side of the diaphragm and atmospheric pressure chamber 43 on the other side.

The diaphragm is backed on the respective sides thereof by plates 44 and 45 to reinforce attachment 0f the valve stem 32 which has a threaded end 46 that extends through registering openings in the plates and diaphragm. The lower plate has threaded connection with the stem and the diaphragm is clamped between the plates by a nut 41 that is turned on the stem and bears upon the upper plate. Seated on the upper plate and contained within the spring housing is a coil spring 48 that carries a cap plate 49 which is engaged by an adjusting screw 50 to regulate action of the spring on the diaphragm, the adjusting screw being threadedly mounted in the top of the spring housing and locked by a jam'b nut 5|. Formed in the bonnet of the valve immediately adjacent the diaphragm chamber is a valve chest 52 open at its upper end into the pressure chamber 42. The valve chest 52 is closed at its lower end by a packing element 53 which axially aligned openings 86 and 87.

4 encircles the stem 32 to prevent loss of actuating fluid around the actuating stem of the valve. Fixed to the stem of the valve in the valve chest by set screws 54 is a collar 55 having a tongue 56 extending laterally therefrom and engaging in a transverse groove 5'! in a slide valve 58. The valve 58 is guidedly supported for vertical movement within a slot 59 provided in the side of the valve chest 52 and closed by a block 68. The block 60 has a flat face 6| that is secured against a correspondingly flattened face of the valve bonnet by fastening devices such as screws 62. The s ide valve also has a fiat face 63 which seats against a portion of the face 6| of the block that is exposed through the guide slot 59 and is adapted to cover one or the other group of aligned ports 64 and 65 formed within the block 58 and having outlets arranged in a linear series extendin parallel with travel of the slide valve 58 as best shown in Fig. 7. Each port in the respective groups of ports is connected through lateral channels 66 with supply ports 67 extending through the block and registering with openings 68 in a manifold 69 to connect with pressure medium supply tubes 79 in the case of the group of ports 64 and with exhaust tubes H in the case of the ports in the group 65, The manifold 69 includes a plate I2 having tapered openings 13 in which the ends of the tubes are anchored by wedge nipples 14 that expand the ends of the tubes when the plate 12 is clamped to a plate 15 also forming a part of the manifold, a suitable gasket 16 being inserted between the plates to maintain the desired seal. The plates of the manifold are clamped together and to the block 68 by fastening devices H.

In order to retain the slide valve in contact with the face 6| of the block 60, a coil spring 19 is sleeved over the tongue 56 to bear between the collar 55 and slide valve 58 as shown in Fig. 8.

The pilot or actuating valve is best illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive and comprises a bracket 80 having a yoke-shaped head 8| supported by an arm 82 that projects from a plate 83 that is secured to the closure plate 9 by certain of the fastening devices If! as illustrated in Fig. 1. The head 8| has spaced ears 84 and 85 provided with Threaded into the openings 86 and 8'! are externally threaded bosses 88 on valve port members 89 and 90. The port members 89 and 96 are of circular disk-like formation and have suflicient thickness to accommodate a circular series of radially arranged ports 9| for the member 89 and 92 for the member 98. The radial ports interconnect an outer circular series of ports 93 for the member 89 and 94 for the member 99 with an inner circular series of channels 95 for the member 89 and 96 for the member 99; the inner circular series being located within bosses 97 that project from the respective members 89 and 98 in the opposite directions from the bosses 88.

Inset within the face portion of the bosses 91 of the respective members 89 and 98 are valve seat members 96 and 99 having a circular series of ports I88 and MI respectively registering with the channels 95 and 96, the ports being of substantially sector shape as best shown in Fig. 9 1

and arranged so that the overall spacing between outermost side edges of two adjacent ports is slightly less than the spacing I82 between the next adjacent pair of ports. Cooperating with the respective seat members 98 and 99 are valving members I03 and I04 having sector-shaped notches .I I25 increasing in widthin a circumferential direction and throughwhich the ports Illil.

and HM respectively are adapted to be exposed upon. turning of the valving members as later described. The solid portions I of the valving plates between the notches are of a width so that in one position all of the sector-shaped ports in one seat member are adapted to be closed and part of the sector-shaped ports in the other member opened. The valving members liltand HM are attached to the clamping rings Iill having internal annular shoulders Iildto seat diskshaped heads I 39 on the ends of rock shafts H6 and III'for the respective valves. The rings I01 have internally threaded counterbores H2 in which are threaded clamping members H3 having recessed faces I I4 adapted tocooperate with the annular shoulders-IE8 in clamping the-heads I59 ofthe rock shafts lit! and III therebetween. The clamping members H3 have cone-shaped axial bosses H5 engaged in cone-shaped axial sockets H6 in bearing members Ill that are resiliently supported by coil springs II8 to retain the valving members in contact with their respective. valve seat members. The shafts Hiiand I i I are rotatably journalled in axial openings I I9 of the port members 89 and 90 and have ends projecting into the space between the ears St and 35 to mount the hubs I20 and I2I of lever arms I22 and I23. The lever arm I23 is substantially shorter than the lever arm I22 and is adjustably connected to move therewith as now to be'described. The main lever arm !22 has ears I213 and I25 projecting laterally therefrom on the respective sides thereof and the ears are threaded for set screws I26 and IN that are adapted to be turned into contact with the respective sides of the lever arm I23, the set screws being retained in adjusted position by jamb nuts I23 as best shown in Fig. 4.

Movement of the main lever is limited by adjusting screws I29 and I3i3 that are threaded in lugs IBI and 532 that project from the yoke 8I intermediate the ears M and 85, the set screws being retained in adjusted positionby jamb nuts i33 threaded on the shanks of the set screws and adapted to bear against the inner faces of the ears. It is thus obvious that by adjusting the set screws themovement of the arm I22 may belimited to control the, rotation. of the valve members relative to the seat members.

The arm I22 is operably connected with thefioat actuatedarm it by anadjustable connect-- inglink I3 1 includinga turnbuckle I35 and having one. end provided. with ayoke I36 which is adjustably connected with the arm It by a fastening device I 3? that is projected through open-- into the bosses 9? are valvehousings I iIand I42 having recesses I 53 for providing valve chambers to enclose the respective valving members. The.

housings MI and M2 have reduced externally threaded necks Hit and I45that are connected by flexible tubes for connection with pressure medium supply and exhaust tubes I46 and Ml. The pressure medium may be supplied from gas discharged from the separator, or pressure from.

any outside pressure supply.

lilncircling the valve housings I41 and IZ. are tube connecting manifold rings I48. and I49; each comprising. a; ring. I50 havin pQrts; I515 register.-

6' ingwith' theportsdszzand 94.; The tubeaconnecta ingmembersalso include a-ring. I 521 havingholes I52 registering withthe orts Ifi I and provided on inner faces with conicalcounterbores I53 for .anchoring the ends of the tubes l'iiandi'l i ,pree

viously mentioned. The ends of 1the-:.tubes. are. wedged within the counterbores :byconical bush! ingsi5tthat are pressed. into gripping contact with the walls of the tube when the rings I5Band I52 are secured-together byfastening devices such asfillister cap screws .I 55 as shown in Fig; 2, which screws are applied'before attachment ofthe manifold rings-to the portmembers' by-capscrews I56;

In assembling the pilot valve the valving mem ber IM i'sadjusted'onthe-rock shaft III so that all-ofthe' ports inthe valve seat member 9tare closed and the valving' member: I 03 is adjustedion'; therock shaft H0 so that part-of 'the'ports inthevalve seating member 98 are open.. Valving. members I03 and IM are designed sothatit -is possible for the solidportiOns I06 of the. Valving plates to cover all of the ports in the valveseating members 98 and 99 in one relative position of the valving plate and valve seating member. From a position in which all of the ports in the valve seating member. are coveredby the valving plate, rotation in one direction opens ports one-atv a time and may or may not-reclose partof the first ports opened depending onthe number. and; arrangement of the 510135.. Ports in the valverseat'--- ing member may or may: not all beopenati any: one time in. the cycle but counter-rotationfrom one relative starting point will close one port at a time, those being covered at-the startof .thezcycle. opening in time to operate in the cycle and then closing in order. Withthe throttle valve closed the slide valve Est closes the lower group ofports. 65 except part of port 65:; and leaves all of the upper group of ports 54 open. With the pilot valve in the float down position, valving. member. IM closes all of the ports NH and the valving member Ills-leaves ports Iiii) open.

The final relative adjustment between the valving members ofthe pilot may beeffectediby manipulatingthe set screws I26 and I2.'I.to vary. the relative positions of thelevenarms I22. and I23. The set screws I26 and I21 are also adjusted: to give the proper movement ofthe lever arm.l22; so that the pilot valving member I03 may be moved from position closing'all. of theports .in its seat member 93 to a position openingzall of the ports and the Valvung member HM. may be moved from a position where it opens all of theports in its valve seating member 99 to a position where it closes all of the ports. Final adjustment for. the relative movement of the lever arms may be made by operating the turnbuckle -I 35 in the connecting link I34.

Assuming that the pilot and throttling valves are connected with an oil and gas separator as illustrated and described, the operation is as follows:

With the float I3 in its lowermostposition the lever arm I4 extends upwardly as shown in Fig. l and the throttling valve is completely closed. In this position pressure chamber 52 is open to atmosphere through the port 65a, tubing Ila and port IBM. The throttle valve is heldv closed. bycompression of spring 48. As the oil flows into the bottom of the separator the liquid level will rise and bring the float I3 up with it. Movement of the float rocks the lever arm I4 downwardly to move the pilot lever I22 through the link connection I34.rocking the shafts, I I0 and III to begin closing. the. ports I00 and. opening; the ports IIJI.

As soon as the port IOIa is opened and the port Ia closed (see diagram Fig. 11), operating gas which has been admitted into the valve chamber I43 from the regulated pressure bottle I51 through the duct I46, begins to flow through the port IOIa through the tube 10a, through the port 64a into the valve chest 52 of the throttle valve 6 to exert pressure on the diaphragm 3| and eiTect initial opening of the throttle valve. Movement of the valve stem 32 causes the slide valve 58 to close the port 640. and shut off all operating gas to the diaphragm. As the slide valve 58 moves up the exhaust port 65a is opened but operating gas cannot be exhausted through the tube Ha since the port I001; of the pilot valve is closed by the valving member I03. In this way the operating gas pressure is held under the diaphragm 3| and the throttle valve remains open for step one. As long as the liquid level in the separator remains constant, it is obvious that the throttle valve will remain open for step one to permit flow of liquid from the separator through the pipe 5, inlet port I'I, valve orifice 26 and outlet port I8 to the pipe line connection 2I. If the efiective area of the valve opening of step one is not large enough to handle all of the oil being produced, the liquid level will rise in the separator again rocking the pilot valve lever to advance the valving members another step to cover port I001), uncover port IOIb and admit more operating fluid through the port into the slide valve chamber through the tube 10b and port 64b to act upon the diaphragm 3| and open the throttle valve to step two. When the throttle valve is open to step two the slide valve is moved to open the port 05b and close the port 64b to shut off the operating gas to the valve chest and hold pressure under the diaphragm and keep the throttle valve open at step 2. Both ports 65a and 65b are now open but the pressure cannot be discharged through the tubing I I a and I ll) because the valve member I03 has moved to also close port N01) to prevent exhaust of the pressure fluid.

As long as the liquid flow into the separator remains constant the liquid flow from the separator also remains constant, however, should the flow tend to increase the rise in level will effect step by step opening of the throttle valve by operating the valving members of the pilot valve through the succeeding positions.

When the opening of the throttle valve is large enough to handle all of the liquid being produced in the separator the throttle valve will remain in that position. It may happen that the valve opening required to handle the liquid flow from the separator will fall between two steps in which case the throttle valve will work between these two steps in accordance with the position of the liquid level in the separator. At any rate, the action will settle down to a step or two adjacent steps and maintain the separator liquid level within a small variation so long as the oil flow is fairly steady and the throttle valve is equipped with a valving member 35 and seat orifice member 27 of the proper size. Additional valving and seat members of various sizes may be made readily available and easily interchanged to maintain the desired balance of flow through action of the pilot valve.

Assuming that the oil level tends to drop in the separator, the float I3 will drop and efiect rocking of the pilot valving members IE3 and I 04 in the opposite direction. For example, assuming that the throttle valve has been operating at the third step and the level in the separator begins to drop, the pilot valving members will be moved responsive to dropping of the float to close the port IOIc and open the port I000. Pressure is then exhausted from the slide valve chest of the throttle valve through the port 65c, tubing Ho and discharged through the open port I000 into the valve chamber from where it is exhausted to atmosphere through the duct I41. Upon drop of pressure on the underside of the diaphragm 3|, the spring 48 becomes effective to move the throttling valve 6 one step toward closed position. When the throttle valve has moved to the second step, the slide valve has moved downwardly to close the port 650 trapping the remaining pressure fluid in the slide valve chest to support the diaphragm in the second step position. If the liquid level continues to fall the valving members of the pilot valve are moved to the next step position closing the port NH) and opening the port I00b to allow further exhaust of pressure from the valve chest through the tubing Hb. When the valve has moved one step the ports 65b and Hill) are closed, thereby holding the pressure in the valve chest suificiently to keep the throttle valve open to the first step position. Thus, if the separator liquid level continues to fall, the throttling valve will continue to close step by step until the flow through the throttling valve corresponds to the oil flow through the separator or until the flow from the separator has been completely shut 01? upon closing of the throttle valve.

By maintaining substantially constant flow of liquid from the separator, gas pressures are kept substantially constant and the marking on the gas meter chart is capable of being read with accuracy.

It is obvious that I have provided a throttling apparatus that is relatively simple and accurately controlled to give the desired uniform flow from the separator, and which requires a very minimum of pressure fluid, and will operate for long periods without expert adjustment and repairs.

What I claim and desire to Patent is:

1. In a fluid pressure mechanism for effecting step by step operation of a member to be operated, a fluid pressure actuatable means, a houssecure by Letters ing containing the fluid pressure actuatable means and having a linear series of pressure medium inlets and pressure medium outlets, control means having a circular series of ports respectively connected with said inlets, a valving element for said circular series of ports, a shaft rotatably supported by said control means for successively uncovering said ports for admitting a pressure medium through the ports, control means coaxial with the first named control means and having a circular series of exhaust ports connected with said outlet ports, a valving element for the last named control means, a shaft coaxial with the first named shaft for carrying the second named valving element for closing the exhaust ports, actuating levers on the respective shafts, a valve slidable over the series of pressure medium inlets of said housing, and means connecting said slidable valve with the fluid pressure actuatable means for successively closing said inlets and successively opening said outlets as the inlet ports are opened and the outlet ports are closed by said valving elements.

2. In a fluid pressure mechanism for effecting step by step operation of a member to be operated, a fluid pressure actuatable means, a. housing containing the fluid pressure actuatable means and having a linear series of pressure medium inlets and pressure medium outlets, control,

cessivelynncovering said ports for admitting a pressure medium through the ports, control 1 means coaxial with the first named control means nected withsaid outlet ports, a valving element for the last named control means, a shaft co axial withthe first named shaft for carrying the second named valving element for closing the exhaust ports, actuating levers on the respective shafts, means for adjustably interconnecting said levers to position the valving elements relatively to each other, a valve slidable over the linear series of pressure medium inlets of the housing, and means connecting the slidable valve with the pressure actuatable means for successively closing said inlets and successively opening said outlets as the inlet ports are opened and the outlet ports are closed by said valving elements.

3. In a fluid pressure mechanism for effectin step by step operation of a member to be operated, a fluid pressure actuatable means having a linear series of pressure medium inlets and pressure medium outlets, control means having acirand having' a circular series of exhaust ports con; [ole means and slidable over said series of linear cular series of ports respectively connected with said inlets, a valving element for said circular series of ports, a shaft rotatably supported by said control means for successively uncoveringsaid ports for admitting a pressure medium through 10 the ports, control means coaxial with the first named control means and having a circular series of exhaust ports connected with said outlet ports, a valving element for the last named control means, a shaft coaxial with the first named shaft for carrying the second named valving element for closing the exhaust ports, means for adjustably mounting the valving elements on said shafts, actuating levers onthe respective shafts, and a valve connected with the pressure actuataports for successively closing, said inlets and successively opening said outlets as the inlet ports are opened and the outlet ports are closed by said valving elements.

GARMAN O. KIMMELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 425,036 Lang Apr. 8, 1890 987,048 Connet Mar. 14, 1911 1,154,591 Dodge Sept. 21, 1915 1,354,311 Landrum Sept. 28, 1920 1,428,375 Humphreys Sept. 5, 1922 1,533,745 Lorraine Apr. 14, 1925 2,105,198 McNamara Jan. 11, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 662,771 Germany of 1938 

